Supporting structure for a chair or the like



April 15, 1969 s. RUBIN 3,438,606

SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR A CHAIR OR THE LIKE Filed Dec. 1, 1966 ZZZ/672567" Saa jPaZa'm United States Patent 3,438,606 SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR A CHAIR OR THE LIKE Saul Rubin, 758 S. Washtenaw Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60612 Filed Dec. 1, 1966, Ser. No. 598,271 Int. Cl. F16m 13/00 US. Cl. 248415 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to improvements in a supporting structure for a chair or the like.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a support in which the column is frictionally interlocked with the means on the underside of the chair, as well as frictionally interlocked with the base, so that the column and base may be shipped and storaged in a knockeddown and disassembled relation to the seat portion of the chair, thereby reducing the overall height of the chair and permitting the use of smaller shipping cartons and a minimum of storage space.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tapered collar or cup-shaped member secured to the swivel unit so that the tapered collar or cup-shaped member becomes an integral part of the swivel unit, with the tapered collar or cup-shaped member forming a socket to frictionally receive and engage with the tapered end of a column.

Another object of this invention is to provide a structure in which the swivel unit and tapered collar or cupshaped member forms one component, a column having its opposite ends tapered forms the second component, and a base with a tapered sleeve or socket forms the third component, whereby the three components may be shipped and stored in a knocked-down or disassembled condition and may be readily assembled in a friction-fit relationship so that they are in effect permanently interlocked, and with said interlocking there is no relative rotation between the tapered collar or cup-shaped member and column and the column and the base. With this invention there is a considerable savings in space and shipping charges.

[In prior constructions it was customary to weld the column directly to the underplate of the swivel unit. In such cases the column would have to be treated for finishing after the welding as the welding would impair the finish of the column. With this invention the swivel unit and the tapered column may each be plated separately and when the two are interfitted by frictional engagement there is no impairment to the finish of the column.

Other objects will become apparent as this description progresses.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a central sectional view showing the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view taken on line 22 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the column showing the tapered opposite ends; and

FIGURE 4 is a plan view taken on line 44 of FIG- URE 1.

3,438,606 Patented Apr. 15, 1969 ice The supporting structure of the chair has a base member generally designated by the numeral 10', formed generally of metal and having a central hub 12 with spaced radiating arms 14, each of which terminates in a depending leg 16. The central hub has a depending tapering sleeve 18. A tubular post or column generally indicated at 20 is provided with a tapered end 22 at its lower end and a tapered end 24 at its upper end. The opposite tapered ends 22 and 24 are identical and either end may :be inserted in the tapering sleeve 18 for frictional engagement therewith to support the column in an upright position. The taper of the end 22 of the column or post is complementary to the taper of the sleeve 18. The tapered end 22 is inserted in the tapered sleeve 18 and by tapping the top of the column 20 with a hammer or the like will cause the column to form a frictional locking engagement in the sleeve 18 of the base so that the column and base are locked against relative rotation and against axial movement. However, if it should become necessary to separate them then tapping the base while holding the column will cause them to separate.

The supporting structure also includes a swivel unit generally designated by the numeral 26 which comprises a top plate 28, an underplate 30, ball bearings 32, and an intermediate plate 34 having spaced openings 36 for retaining the ball bearings. The top and underplates are each shaped to provide raceways 3'8 and 40 respectively for the ball bearings 32. A tapered sleeve or tapered collar 42 to form a cup-shaped member having an end wall 43 is fixedly secured to the swivel unit by a pin 44 having enlargements at its opposite ends. The three plates of the swivel unit are held together and joined to the tapered collar or cup-shaped member by means of the pin 44, which also passes through an opening in the end wall 43 of the collar or cup-shaped member. The upper plate has a raised outer edge 46 provided with spaced openings 48 to receive screws 50 which secure the swivel unit to the underside of the seat portion of the chair. The swivel unit 26 and collar 42, as well as the column 20 are all made of metal.

The tapered sleeve or collar or cup-shaped member 42 is adapted to receive the tapered end 24 of the column 20. The taper of the collar or cup-shaped member 42 is com lementary to the taper 24 and a frictional interlocking engagement is effected between the tapered end 24 and the tapered collar or cup-shaped member 42. Tapping the swivel downwardly with a hammer or the like with respect to the column 20 will cause the frictional interlocking so that there will be no relative rotation or axial movement between the collar or cup-shaped member 42 and the column 20 when the frictional interlocking takes place. As will be seen in FIGURE 1, some space designated by the numeral 45 is provided between the upper end of the column and the end wall 43 of the collar or cup-shaped member. The weight of the person in the chair will cause the spacing distance to be reduced and further effect the interlocking engagement. Lifting the chair by the seat will not cause a separation between the column and the collar or cup-shaped member 42 or sleeve 18 of the base. The only way to separate the collar or cunshaped member 42 from the column would be to hit the underside of the swivel unit upwardly while holding the column.

The tapered collar or cup-shaped member 42 becomes an integral part of the swivel unit 26 and the swivel unit is rotatable with respect to the collar. The swivel unit 26 with the collar is one component and may be shipped with the base 10 and column 20 in disassembled relation and readily assembled at the place of use. With the swivel unit 26 and tapered collar 42 secured to the seat of the chair, the lower edge of the collar determines the height of the chair when the base and column are not in interlocking engagement, instead of the height extending to the base as heretofore. Thus, chairs may be crated and shipped in much smaller containers than heretofore used, and the user merely inserts the column 20 in the collar 42 and in the base 10 to eflect the interlocking without requiring any tools other than a hammer for the tapping.

If desired, the tapered collar or cup-shaped member 42 may be welded to the underplate 30 of the swivel unit so as to form an integral part thereof, and a pin similar to pin 44 may be used to connect the three plates of the swivel unit, permitting the top plate 28 and intermediate plate 34 to rotate relative to the stationary undenplate 30.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made from the foregoing without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

1. A supporting structure for a chair comprising: a base having a tapered sleeve, swivel means adapted to be secured to a seat portion of the chair, said swivel means including ball bearings positioned between a pair of plate members, a tapered cup-shaped member having a closed end and an open end, said swivel means secured to said closed end with the open end of the cup-shaped member facing inwardly, the taper on said sleeve and said cupshaped member being identical, a column having its opposite ends identically tapered and complementary to the taper of the sleeve and cup-shaped member to permit either of the opposite ends of the column to frictionally engage the sleeve and cup-shaped member so that there is no rotation between the column and said sleeve and said cup-shaped member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 361,119 4/1887 Besly 248-159 1,425,582 8/1922 Feigler 108150 1,463,217 7/1923 Kristofek 24815'8 FRANCIS K. ZUGEL, Primary Examiner.

US Cl. X.R. 108-150 

